International City Theatre presents 'Masala Dabba'

First and second generation members of a multi-cultural American family see themselves reflected in stories from the past — each inspired by a spice in their grandmother’s Indian spice box. International City Theatre presents the world premiere of Masala Dabba, a powerful and moving new play by ICT playwright-in-residence Wendy Graf. Marya Mazor directs the three-week run, August 29 through September 14, with two low-priced previews on August 27 and 28.

How do we resolve deep resentments that often divide our families, the very people we should be able to count on for love and support? American born Nisha Byrd has long been estranged from her mother, Aditi, The two haven’t spoken since Aditi returned to her native Gujurat, and Aditi has never met Tina, her now 14-year-old granddaughter. When an unanticipated event brings Aditi back to the States and into the Byrd family’s orbit, long buried truths bubble to the surface. Food becomes a portal into the past as the three generations of women bond through stories inspired by the spices in Aditi’s masala dabba.

“I’ve always been interested in understanding the moment to moment choices people make that determine who they are or who they aren't — the decisions to help, to hinder, to tell a truth, to say yes, to say no, to stay, to go,” explains Graf. “My plays return again and again to themes of family, culture, and identity as seen through the lens of race, religion, politics, war and today’s schisms. Masala Dabba centers on a mixed Indian and African American family, but I hope that all audiences will see themselves and their families in this story.”

Masala Dabba was inspired by Graf’s many travels throughout India and her love of Indian cooking. In 2013, she and her husband renewed their marriage vows in a Hindi ceremony in Jaipur after being officially “adopted” by an Indian family.

Masala Dabba runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., August 29 through September 14. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28 both at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $56 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, except opening night (Friday, Aug. 29), and $59 on opening night and at Sunday matinees. Low-priced tickets to previews are $44.

International City Theatre is located in Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center’s Beverly O’Neill Theater at 330 East Seaside Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.For more information and to purchase tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org.